Headlight



y 3 J. s. CONLEY 2,079,732

HEADLI GHT Filed Oct. 19, 1 935 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 11, 1937.

I J. 5. CONLEY 2,079,732

HEADLIGHT Filed Oct. 19, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 11, 1937. J. s,

CONLEY 2,079,732

HEADLIGHT Filed Oct. 19, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Jf Janie; M

Attorney Patented H, 193'! UNHTED STATES 2 Claims.

This invention relates to headlights and more particularly to locomotiveheadlights.

In accordance with the present invention a headlight particularlydesigned for use on a locomotive is provided whereby the latter willserve not only the usual requirement of a headlight of this characterbut will also serve as a means for illuminating railroad crossing signsand'the like for rendering less hazardous railroad grade crossings.

Briefly the invention consists in the provision of a headlight involvinga rotating lamp mechanism whereby either a red lamp or a white lamp maybe readily brought into position within the lamp casing; and additionallamps effectively disposed about the main lamp casing and includingcolored, preferably red, lamps and a beacon lamp, and which lamps willbe illuminated incidental to an operation of the first mentionedrotating lamp mechanism in the placing of the red lamp of said rotatingmechanism in operative position within the main casing.

Among the objects of. the invention is to provide a lamp having thefeatures above referred to and characterized by simplicity ofconstruction and efiiciency of operation.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating the application of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the headlight with the frontlens and reflector removed.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail views taken substantially on the lines 3-3and 4-4 respectively of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a centering clip. I

Figure '7 is a detail elevational view further illustrating theapplication of the clip shown in Figure 6. p

Figures 8 and 9 are detail views taken substantially on the lines 8-4and 9--9 respectively of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a wiring diagram and Figure 11 is a view illustrating theuse of the invention as a locomotive approaches a grade crossing.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that theheadlamp comprises a main casing or drum 5 provided in the front thereofwith a suitable lens 6 held in place by a lens retaining ring I.Arranged suitably behind the lens 6 is a parabolic reflector 8, and inaccordance with the present invention the reflector 8 at its apex isprovided with av relatively narrow arcuate slot or opening 9.

Also mounted in the casing 5 is a rotating lamp mechanism indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral Ill.

The rotating lamp mechanism I comprises a transverse shaft II the endsof which are journalled in bearings l2 secured at the desired adjustmentwithin boxings l3 through the medium of set screws M.

The boxings. l3 are mounted on brackets l disposed at diametricallyopposite sides of the casing 5. The brackets I5 are secured in thecasing in any suitable manner.

Mounted on the shaft II for rotation therewith is a substantiallyT-shaped rotor l6 suitably provided as at I! to form reflector segmentsl8 adapted to be moved selectively into a position substantially withinthe slot 9 of the relamp bulb mounting consists of a lamp socket IQ ofany suitable conventional form and which is accommodated within anopening 20 in the member IS in proper relation to a reflector Ill.

.The opening 20 extends at right angles to an opening 2| that extendsthrough the member l6;

parallel to the axis of the member and from one side to the other ofsaid member as shown in Figure 5. At the opposite ends of the opening 2!the member I6 is notched as at 22 to accommodate a pair of opposedsubstantially U-shaped spring clips 23 of a structure best shown inFigure 6. The clips 23 straddle the notched portions 22 as is clear froma study of Figures 5 and '7 and at the closed end of the U each clip islaterally extended as at 23a. and suitably apertured whereby at said endthe clip may be secured by suitable fastening means to a notched edge 22of the member IS.

The legs of each clip 23 at their inner ends are provided with lateralprojections reversely bent to form channel or hook members 24 that bearagainst the socket l3 adjacent the upper and lower ends of the socket.The ends 24 of the legs of the clip are retained in engagement with thesocket l9 through the medium of a wrapping 25 of wire or other suitablematerial as best shown in Figure 5.

After proper focusing of the socket 9 and clips 23, and the engagementof the clips with the socket in the manner just described each opening2| is filled with furnace cement or similar material 26 while at thebase of the reflector l8 and about the external ends 24 of the clip andthe socket I9 is packed a cement or other suitable cementitious material21 so as to provide for a neat appearance where the socket projectsoutwardly through the base of the reflector l8.

From the above it will be seen that an effective means is provided foranchoring each socket l9 in position and against working loose as mightotherwise occur due to the tremendous vibration to which the lamp andassociated parts are usually subjected.

Arranged in one of the sockets 9 is for example a white incandescentlamp 28 while arranged in the other of the sockets I9 is a redincandenscent lamp 29. For rotating the member 6 to place either thelamp 28 or 29 in operative position there is suitably mounted on theshaft il a rack segment 38 which is in constant mesh with a rack bar 3|provided on the end of the rod 32 of a piston 33. Piston 33 is mountedfor reciprocation and fits loosely in a cylinder 34 secured at its upperend and as indicated generally at 35 to the bottom of the lamp casing 5at the rear end of the latter and as shown in Figure 3. At its lower endthe cylinder 34 is suitably connected with a flexible hose or conduit 36leading from a suitable source of pressure supply, which is air, steam,oil or the like whereby the piston 33 will be caused to move upwardlyand movement of the piston will be transmitted through the rack 3| andsegment 38 to the shaft II for rotating the member l6 to position eitherthe bulb 28 or 29 in operative position. Upon release of pressure piston33 by gravity will return to the position shown in Figure 3 resulting ina return of the parts to the position also shown in said figure.

Suitably mounted on the top of the casing 5 is a beacon light whichconsists of a suitable casing 31 in which is mounted an incandenscentlamp 38 of suitable voltage power.

Adjacent the bottom thereof and at opposite sides of the casing 5 arelamp casings 39 in which are mounted colored, preferably red,incandescent lamps 48.

As shown in Figure 10 all of the lamps are arranged in a suitablecircuit and for controlling the circuit through the lamp there areprovided for each of the lamps 28, 29, 38, and 48 insulating disks 4|,42, 43, and 44-44 respectively secured on the shaft H in any suitablemanner and arranged on the shaft as shown in Figure 2. Each of the disks4|, 42, and 43 is provided with a segmental contact section 45 properlyarranged relative to one another and cooperable with a spring contact 46suitably mounted as at 46a within the casing 5 for controlling thecircuit through the lamps 28, 28, and 38 respectively.

The insulatingdisks 44 are provided with similar contact segments 41cooperable with spring contacts 48 mounted as at 46b within the casing5, for controlling the circuit through the lamps 48. (See Figure 10.)

From the above it will be apparent that when the white lamp 28 is in theposition shown in Figure 3, that is to say in operative position, thecircuit through the lamp 28 will be completed through contact 46 andcontact 45 associated with the disk 4| as clearly suggested in Figure10.

When the piston 33 however is operated as previously explained to rotatethe member 5 through the rack 3| and segment 38 for placing the lamp 29in operative position, and to take the place of lamp 28, all of theaforementioned insulating disks will rotate with shaft H in a manner tomove the contact 45 on the disk 4| out of engagement with the contact 46and to bring the contacts 45 on the disks 42 and 43 into engagement withthe contacts 46 as well as to bring the contact 41 on the disks 44 intoengagement with the contacts 48. This will result in an interruption ofthe circuit through the lamp 28 and a completing of the circuit throughthe red lamp 29, the beacon lamp 38, and the red lamps 48. Under suchconditions, taking place as the locomotive 58 approaches a gradecrossing, lamp 38 is brought into play for properly illuminating thegrade crossing far in advance of the locomotive 58 while the red lamps28 and 48 will serve to illuminate the grade crossing signal 5| andother objects on or near the crossing thus giving an illuminated signalto the occupants of vehicles approaching the crossing thereby giving theoperator of said vehicle timely notice well in advance of the approachof the locomotive.

In connection with the above it might be stated that at the present timethe general practice is to maintain a red signal lamp at all railroadgrade crossings and this lamp is continuously burning. Motoristsaccustomed to seeing such signal burning continuously, and regardless ofwhether or not the locomotive is actually approaching a crossing havecome to be careless in giving the proper regard to such signalsresulting in numerous accidents. With this invention instead ofproviding a continuously operated red signal lamp at the crossing asuitable reflector signal such as suggested at 5| in Figure 11 of thedrawings may be employed and this signal will be illuminated from therays of the lamps 28 and 48 only upon an approach of a locomotive sothat the train will provide a positive signalling means for signallingthe actual approach of the locomotive. Thus the signal 5| will be muchmore effective if in the nature of a reflector signal as contemplated bythe present invention than where, at the present time, the signal is acontinuously burning red lamp. Thus while the head lamp embodying thefeatures of the present invention will serve admirably as a headlamp forlocomotives it will also serve additionally as a means for giving aproper warning or signal at a railroad grade crossing incidental to anactual approach of the locomotive, and of course in actual practice theengineer will bring the signal lamps 29, 38, and 48 into operationone-half or quarter of a mile away from the grade crossing, so thatoccupants of motor vehicles and the like will have timely warning of theapproach of the locomotive.

For mounting the headlight on the front of the locomotive 58, I providea pair of opposed brackets 52 which support therebetween a. bearing racemember 54 cooperable with a bearing race member 55 on the under side ofthe lamp casing 5. Confined between the race members 54 and 55 are ballbearings or the like 5'6.

Secured to the underside of the casing 5 within the confines of thebearing race member 55 as at Si is one end of a shaft 58 which at itslower end is provided with an arm 59. Connected with the arm 59 as atGil are oppositely extending cables 6! trained over suitable pulleys 62and operable from a point within convenient reach of the engineer forswinging the headlight as a unit either to the right or to the left. Foryieldably retaining the headlight in a normal position there areprovided suitable springs 63 suitably anchored at one end to thebrackets 52 and at their respective free ends to the lamp casing 5 assuggested in Figure 1.

By swinging the head lamp either to the right or left the same can beefiectively used for illuminating the railroad grade crossingv signalwhen approaching the crossing on a curved track.

It is thought that from the above a clear understanding of theconstruction, operation and utility of a headlight of this characterwill be had by those skilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention," what is claimed as new is:

1. In a headlight of the class described, a casing, a stationaryreflector in the frontend of a the casing, said reflector being providedwith a slot in the rear end of the latter, a member rotatably mounted inthe casing behind the reflector, a pair of arcuate reflector memberscarried by said rotatable member and adapted to be selectively placedwithin said slot, an electric lamp associated with each of said arcuatereflectors. one of said lamps being colored, means for retating saidrotatable member, an electric circuit including said lamps, meansarranged in said circuit to close the circuit of each lamp when itsassociated reflector is brought into position within said slot, a beaconlamp casing mounted on the first named casing, an electric lamp mountedin the beacon lamp casing, said beacon lamp being also arranged in theelectrical circuit, and means for closing the circuit through the beaconlamp when the colored lamp and its associated arcuate reflector isbrought into operative position.

2. In a headlight of the class described, a casing, a stationaryreflector in the front end of the casing, said reflector being providedwith a slot in the rear end of the latter, a member rotatably mounted inthe casing behind the reflector, a pair of arcuate reflector memberscarried by said rotatable member and adapted to be selectively placedwithin said slot, an electric lamp associated with each of said arcuatereflectors, one of said lamps being colored, means for rotating saidrotatable member, an electric circuit including said lamps, meansarrangedin said circuit to close the circuit of each lamp when itsassociated reflector is brought into position'within said slot, a beaconlamp casing mounted on the first named casing, additional lamp casingsmounted at opposite sides of the first named lamp casing, an electriclamp mounted in the beacon lamp casing, colored electric lamps mountedin said additional lamp casings, said beacon lamp and additional lampsbeing arranged in said circuit, and means in said circuit for completingthe circuit through the beacon lamp and the last named colored lampswhen the first named colored lamp and its associated reflector isbrought into operative position.

JOSEPH S. CONLEY.

